27/1/16: [PHRG Attended] International Development Committee Inquiry: Crisis in Yemen

Posted onAuthorHumanRightsAPPG

The International Development Committee’s latest inquiry examined the Government’s response to the crisis in Yemen.

The Committee first heard from expert witnesses from UNICEF, Safe the Children, Oxfam and Saferworld. The main points raised were as follows:

    • 21.2 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance in Yemen. Humanitarian access to certain areas remains a huge challenge.
    • Around 6000 Yemenis have been killed so far in the conflict. 750 children have also been killed, mostly by air strikes led by the Saudi-led coalition.
    • A recent United Nations report uncovered “widespread and systematic” attacks on civilian targets by the Saudi-led coalition, in violation of international humanitarian law (IHL).
    • The UK’s sales of arms to the Saudi Government (over 3 billion pounds worth in January-September 2015) are significantly bolstering Saudi military capability.
    • A legal opinion by Matrix Chambers concluded that the UK Government is acting in breach of its obligations arising under the Arms Trade Treaty, European rules, and its own national controls, by continuing to authorise transfers of weapons to Saudi Arabia that are capable of being used in Yemen, in the current circumstances.
    • The UK Government’s response to the crisis is incoherent as it supplies both arms and aid simultaneously.
    • The UK Government is encouraged to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia, use its influence to ensure civilians are not targeted and condemn outright any violations of IHL.

Following this, evidence was given by Rt Hon Desmond Swayne MP, Minister of State for International Development, and Tobias Ellwood MP, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Minister Swayne affirmed the UK Government’s commitment to delivering aid to Yemen and noted that they were lobbying for more funding to be provided. Minister Ellwood reiterated the UK Government’s position on arms sales, saying that Britain had one of the strictest set of rules governing arms sales anywhere in the world.

The PHRG is closely monitoring the Yemen crisis and will continue to raise violations of international law in the country whenever possible.